Locking device



A. SHATKIN LOCKING DEVICE Aug. 14, 1934.

Filed June 1, 1933 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1934 PATENT1,970,399 LOCKING DEVICE Aaron Shatkin, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application June1,1933, Serial No. 673,811

9 Claims. (01.1120-9) My present invention relates to locking devices,particularly of the type adaptable in collapsible housings for writinginstruments.

The objects of this invention are to provide a novel and improvedlocking device of the char acter mentioned, which looks the housingaforesaid when the latter is collapsed, which requires no manualr-otarymotion either at looking or unlocking of the telescopic housingelements, and

which is simple in construction, certain in operation and convenient inuse.

To attain these objects, in an embodiment of my present'invention in acollapsible housing for writing instruments, which housing includes'aseries of telescopically associated tubular elements, I provide aheaded member which is secured to the innermost tubular. element of thehousing; the head .of which member projects within the housing towardsthe outermost memher, a pair of gripping elements, mounted in theoutermost tubular member, adapted to close in upon and secure the saidhead between them when the telescopic housing is closed or collapsedagainst the action of a spring which acts upon the gripping elements tomaintain their closed condition, and to unlock or release the grip uponsaid headed member, I provide a button member which is slidably mountedat the extremity of the outermost tubular member of thehousing,

which button when pushed inwardly against the action of a spring, isadapted to move the grip-,- ping elements to free theirihold, whereuponthe housing becomes extended. I

This inventionis capable of numerous forms and variousapplicationswithout departing from the essential features hereindisclosed. It .is therefore intended and desired that the embodi-L mentshown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that thepatent shall'cover'whatever features of patentable novelty'exist in theinvention disclosed; reference being had to the appended claims ratherthan to the specific description herein, to indicate the scope" of theinvention. v i g In theaccompanying drawing, forming part of thisapplication, similar characters of" reference, indicate correspondingparts in all the views.

Fig. 1 shows substantially, 'a central longitu O dinal section through afully extended collapsible housing for writing instruments, which isequipped with an embodiment of the locking device which is the subjectofthis application.

. i Fig. 2 shows a similar section when the housing is collapsed andlocked. i e

r Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the embodiment ofthe locking device.

Fig. 4 shows in perspective the gripping elements and the headed elementof the locking device. 7

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary central longitudinal section through an extendedhousing, showing the construction to incorporate my locking de-, vice,when the housing includes amagazine for leads. V

Fig. 6 shows in perspective the releasing but.-. ton provided with aneraser which is included. in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5. i

Fig. '7' shows in perspective the inner end tubular element included inthe embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawing, the numeral 10, designates generally a collapsiblehousing for writing instruments, comprising the concentric tubes 11, 12and 13, which slide co-axially within one another. Provision is made bythe'inward beads 14, and the outward beads 15, to prevent the severaltubes from coming apart, and the .end 16, of the tube 12, is drawn in alittle so as to prevent said tube 12, from sliding out when the housing10 is collapsed; said reduced end being unable to pass the tube 11. Ahead element 17, isset into the tube 11, to project therefromat its freeend, and a washer 18, is secured within the tube 11, close up againstthe head element 1'7. Also, inside the tube 11, is secured a washer 19,having fixed therethrough, a coil 20. Secured within this coil 20-andprotruding therefrom into tube 12, isua' shank 21, which terminates inahead element 22, extending-towards tube 13. I Within the tube'13, awasher 23 is free to slide, which is secured-.110 an endof a spring 24;the other end of which spring rests on thewasher'19. 1 A- hubbedbushing, generally designated by the numeral 25, having a central bore26, is countersunk at its hub-end to provide the tapering surface 27,and is counter-bored at its other end to provide the seat 28. The tube13, terminates in an enlarged portion 28, within which is secured themember 25, by bending over the end 29, of the enlarged portion 28; thehub of member 25thus being within the tube 13, so positioned that thesurface=27 slopes towards the end 28 of the tube Resting on top of thewasher 23, and through the bore, 26, of member 25, are a pair ofgripping elements 30, in contact with each otherat the vertex lines'31,of their respective angled surfaces 32 and 33; asteel ball 34,- beingset within the semi-spherical sockets 35 on said vertexlines,

is individually tapered, as indicated by the numeral 38.

A button member 39, terminating in a flange 40, which is set free toslide within the counterbore of the member 25, against the actionof aspring 41, interposed between said flange 40 and,

the seat 28, serves as the terminal of the housing 10, whereto issecured the chain link 42, for at tachment of either a chain or ribbon,asthe user A ferrule 43, about the shank of the may desire. buttonmember 39, closes the end of the tube, 13,

and is secured thereabout by turning inwardlythe end 44. It is to benoted that the tapered ends 38 of the gripping elements 30, are posietioned within a conical socket 45 bored in the flanged end of the buttonmember 39.

When it is desired to build the housing with provision for the storingof leads and to provide other features as hereinafter indicated, thefollowing modification in construction is followed.

.In place of the tube 13, is a tube 45, about which is concentricallysecured the magazine tube 46;

leads being .stored within the space 4'7 formed betweenthese tubes.Between a pair of annular beads 48, spun inwardly in tube.45, is securedthe bushing element 49, the lower end of which has an inwardly slopingsurface ,50. Along lengthwise diametrically opposite tracks51, dented inthe tube 45 above the beads 48, is slidably mounted the member 52; thesaid tracks fitting into the surface channels 53, which are cutlengthwise along the sides ofmember. 52. Integral'with this member. 52,is a reduced portion 54, provided with a conical bore 55. A spring 56 isinterposedbee tween the element 49 and the member 52. The tube 45 isclosed byhaving its upper end spun over inwardly, having the. hole 5'7,however, for the passage of theshank of the button member. 58. The topend of the tube 45,, is'exteriorly threaded to receive cap 59, whichserves to close the magazine chamber 47. Into athreaded bore 61, in themember 52, fits the threaded end of the shank of the button member 58,intowhich end and extending therefrom, is an eraser 60.

1 Writing mechanisms for either mechanical pencils or fountain pen,devices are mounted within thev tube 11. Such. constructions. andmountings are well known, and therefore ,arenot shown. The coil 20, maybe part ofpencil mech-- anisms, but in any event, the member 21 -must'be secured in any suitable manner to either, tube 11, or the head 17, orto any-component fixedly secured to either of these. w I

In operation, the action of spring 24, distends the housing 10and'presses the gripping elements 30 into the member 25, whereby ends37-come closer together in their contact-with the sloping' surface 27,While ends 38 of the gripping elements 30, spread apart within theconical bore 1 45 of the button member 39.

To look the'housing', the button'39, and' the head 17 are broughttowards each other whereby the housing is collapsed. The manual push ofthe button 39 overcomes the action of the spring 24, shifts the grippingelements '30 in the di- 'per elements 30, and spring 24 will force therection of its motion, bringing the ends 38 together within the conicalbore 45, whereby the 7 lower ends of the elements 30 are spread apart toadmit the head 22, within the sockets 36. Now holding the housing 10collapsed and momentarily releasing hold of the button 39, will causespring 24 to push the gripping elements 30 into member 25, whereby thehold onto the head 22 will be secured, and the shank 21 will be gripped.

Toopen the housing, push the button 39 towards the head 17, against thespring 41, whereupon the ends 38 of the gripper elements 30 will cometo- :gether within the conical bore 45, whereupon the head22 will bereleased from the hold of the gripextension ,of the housing 10 to itsopen length.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, since the element 52, is restrainedfrom rotary motion, the

vbutton 58, can be easily unscrewed when it is desired to use the eraser60. In this modified construction, it is evident that the locking deviceoperates in a manner precisely the same as in the construction shown inFig. 1.

; I claim:- a

1. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopic tubularelements, agripping means, normally inclosed position, mounted within an end tubular element of the housing, ashank member associated with the other end element of the housing,adapted to be held by the gripping means when the housing is collapsedand said shank member admitted in the gripping means, a means to openthe gripping means for the admission of the shank member therein and itsrelease therefrom, and a flexible means mounted within the housingadapted to extend the telescopic tubularelements aforesaid, upon releaseof the shank memberfrom the hold of thegripping means.

2. In combination with a collapsible housing 115 for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a pairofgripping elements pivotally related with each other, mountedwithin anend tubular element of the housing, and normally in closed position,means to move thegripping elements into open position, a shank member.associated with the other end element of the housing, adapted to be heldbetween" the gripping elements when the housing is collapsed and saidshank member is admitted between the gripping elements, and a flexiblemeans mounted within the housing adapted to extend the telescopictubular elements aforesaid, upon-release oi-the' shank member from thehold of the grippingelements. 3-

3; .Incombination' with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes-telescopically-associated tubular elements, a pair ofgripping. elementspivotally related with each other, mounted within anend tubular element of the housingrand normally in closed position;eachof said gripping elements being provided with a socket, means tomove the gripping elements into open position, a headed memberassociated with theother end element of the housing, adapted to lei-7;be held between the gripping. elements when the housing is collapsed andthe head of said member is admitted-within the sockets in the grippingelements, anda flexible means mounted within the "housing, adapted toextend said telescopic i tubular elements upon release of the headedmember from the hold of the gripping elements.

4.Incombination with a collapsible housing for writing instruments whichincludes telescopically associated tubular elements, a pair'of grip- 55ping elements pivotally related with each other, mounted within an endtubular element of the housing and normally in closed position, a buttonmember extending from and slidably mounted within said end tubularelement, adapted upon being manually slid into said tubular element, tomove the gripping elements into open position, a spring to shift thebutton element to its outermost position with respect to the tubularelement with which it is associated, a shank member associated with theother end element of the housing, adapted to be held between thegripping elements when the housing is collapsed and said shank memberis-admitted between the gripping elements, and a spring mounted withinthe housing, adapted to extend the telescopic tubular elementsaforesaid, upon release of the shank member from the hold of thegripping elements when the button member is shifted to open the grippingelements.

5. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a pair ofgripping elements pivotally related with each other, mounted within anend tubular element of the housing, and normally in closed position;each of said gripping elements being provided with a socket, a buttonmember extending from and slidably mounted within said end tubularelement, adapted upon being manually slid into said tubular element, tomove the gripping elements into open position, a spring to shift thebutton element to its outermost position with respect to the tubularelement with which it is 1 associated, a headed member associated withthe other end element of the housing, adapted to be held between thegripping elements when the housing is collapsed and the head of saidmember is admitted within the sockets in the gripping elements, and aspring mounted within the housing, adapted to extend the telescopictubular elements aforesaid, upon release of the headed member from thehold of the gripping elements when the button member is shifted to openthe gripping elements.

6. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a pair ofgripping elements pivotally related with each other, mounted within anend tubular element of the housing, a shank member associated with theother end element of the housing, adapted to be held between thegripping elements when the housing is collapsed and said shank member isadmitted between the gripping elements, a spring mounted within thehousing acting to close the gripping elements and adapted to extend thetelescopic elements aforesaid upon release of the shank member from thehold of the gripping elements, and means to shift the gripping elementsinto open position.

'7. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a pair ofgripping elements pivotally related with each other, mounted within anend tubular element of the housing; each of said gripping elements beingprovided with a socket, a headed member associated with the other endelement of the housing, adapted to be held between the gripping elementswhen the housing is collapsed and the head of said member is admittedwithin the sockets in the gripping elements, a spring mounted within thehousing acting to close the gripping elements and adapted to extend thetelescopic elements aforesaid upon release of the headed member from thehold of the gripping elements, and means to shift the gripping elementsinto open position.

8. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a bushingmember, having an inwardly sloping surface, secured within an endtubular element of the housing, a pair of gripping elements pivotallyrelated with each other intermediate their ends, slidably mounted withinthe bushing member; one end of each of the gripping elements slopingoutwardly at the inwardly sloping surface of the bushing member, andeach of their other ends being tapered and spaced, a button member,provided with a tapered socket, slidably mounted within said end tubularelement of the housing and extending therefrom; the tapering spaced endsof the gripping elements being positioned to be ad-.

mitted within the socket of the button member when the latter ismanually slid in their direction to bring said ends together whereby thegripping elements are shifted into open position, a spring mountedwithin the housing to act on the button member to shift the latter toits outermost position with respect to the tube with which it isassociated, a shank member associated with the other end element of thehousing, adapted to be held between the gripping elements when thehousing is collapsed and said shank member is admitted between thegripping elements, and a spring mounted within the housing, acting toclose the gripping elements and. adapted to extend the tubular elementsof the housing upon release of the shank member from the hold of thegripping elements.

9. In combination with a collapsible housing for writing instrumentswhich includes telescopically associated tubular elements, a bushingmember, having an inwardly sloping surface, secured within an endtubular element of the housing, a pair of gripping elements pivotallyrelated with each other intermediate their ends, slidably mounted withinthe bushing member; one end of each of the gripping elements slopingoutwardly at the inwardly sloping surface of the bushing member, each oftheir other ends being tapered and spaced, and each of said grippingelements being provided with a socket, a button member provided with atapered socket, slidably mounted within said end tubular element of thehousing and extending therefrom; the tapering spaced ends of thegripping elements being positioned to be admitted within the socket ofthe button member when the latter is manually slid in their direction tobring said ends together whereby the gripping elements are shifted intoopen position, a spring mounted within the housing to act on the buttonmember'to shift the latter to its outermost position with respect to thetube with which it is associated, a headed member associated with theother end element of the housing, adapted to be held between thegripping elements when the housing is collapsed and the head of saidmember is admitted within the sockets in the gripping elements, and aspring mounted within the housing, acting to close the gripping elementsand adapted to extend the tubular elements of the housing upon releaseof the headed member from the hold of the gripping elements.

AARON SHATKIN.

